The Birds were down 6-0 after a 1/2 inning played. They battled all the way back to win on a walk off squeeze in the bottom of the 7th. Sweet Lou Bunning throws a complete game after giving up a lead off dinger to start the game. The Dirty Birds had 3 errors in the first that led to the 6 runs. I believe only one of Lou's runs were earned. Todd Ramey went 2/3 with a homerun, a double and 3 runs batted in..Great job Birds!!!:ylsuper:

Wild game at Florence Freedom. Birds looked like the Bad News Bears in the top of the 1st, allowing 5 unearned runs after the leadoff HR. JR Bunning pitched well and locked up the Raiders through 6+. JR Ball relieved in the top 7 to induce a nice 4-6-3 DP on a knuckleball and got the final out on another.

 

Birds scratched 2 across and then another 2 via JR Ramey's long HR to left center, but entered the bottom of the 7th down 7-4. SR Allen lead off with a triple down the RF line. After Ramey flew out to RF (not deep enough to try to score), Ball singled to RF to score Allen. SR Gesenhues ran for Ball and stole 2B before SR Cochran worked a 3-2 walk to put runners on 1st & 2nd. SR Vermeil lined a solid single up the middle to score Gesenhues with the tying run. After JR Hennigan was walked to load the bases, JR Heck put down a textbook suicide squeeze to score Cochran with the winning run.

 

Huge win for the Birds. Never give up!

How could I forget about Ball.... He makes people look silly sometimes..:thumb:

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team fell behind 6-0 in the first inning.

But the Bluebirds (16-15) slowly chipped away at it and scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Ryle Raiders, 7-6 Monday at University of Cincinnati Medical Center Field. Ryle won the 9th Region crown last year.

Highlands scored the game-winning run on a suicide squeeze play. Joey Cochran scored when Grayson Heck laid down the bunt.

Highlands outhit Ryle, 10-7. Todd Ramey led the way for the Bluebirds going 2-for-4 with a home run, three runs batted in and a run scored. Teammate Evan Allen followed going 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs scored with Heck going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Lou Bunning pitched the first six innings for Highlands striking out two. But Kenny Ball picked up the win pitching the seventh.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Monday Sports Briefs

Forbes homered under the scoreboard and the wheels came off. He had 2 hits in the 1st inning. How amazing Bunning keeps his composure and shuts out the Raiders for the next 5 innings? Downs for the Raiders wasn't on top of his game but battled well. Ramey's dinger was no doubt off the bat.

Perfect bunt location for the win, the Raider 1st baseman didn't play in. Congrats to the Bluebirds.

Good resolve by the Birds in this one. After Forbes' solo homer to lead off game and the fielding miscues as stated by jpa, Birds' pitching duo of Bunning and Ball put up zeros the rest of the way. Kuddos to Kenny Ball on his first win of the season. Allen, Ramey and Heck with big hits for the Birds. Lead off triple by Allen in the Top of the 7th keyed the Birds late rally.

 

Same 2 teams play again today at Ryle. St. X cancelled on the Birds for their scheduled Senior Day today, which has been rescheduled for this Friday at Highland Park.

Edited May 13, 201412 yr by horst muhlmann